Rotary table

ABSTRACT

A rotary table includes a first plank which has a plurality of fastening portions and a plurality of rolling balls corresponding to fastening portions, and each fastening portion fastens each rolling ball to one side of the first plank, and a second plank which has a first baseboard, a second baseboard, an annular trough and at least one latch portion. The first baseboard and second baseboard have respectively a first trough and a second trough on one side thereof that are joined through the latch portion to form the second plank with the annular trough in a continuous manner at the same plane. The first plank is turnable relative to the second plank through the rolling balls moving in the annular trough.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rotary table and particularly to a rotary table comprising an upper plank and a lower plank that can be coupled and turned relative to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People having a higher living quality also have a higher demand on articles they use. In addition to aesthetic appeal, functionality and usability of the articles also are highly valued. Take design of tables as an example, besides providing a top table for holding goods, its usability also has to be taken into account. Thus a rotary table has been developed to allow users at different positions to fetch goods in turns.

The conventional rotary table has a rotary portion in the center to allow a rotary plank to turn against a stationary plank. The rotary portion is located in the center of the rotary table and has only one bracing contact surface, hence it is undesirable in terms of stability and support capability. Moreover, it has to be mounted onto a smoother surface to facilitate turning with less interference. Its usability is restricted. It is mostly used indoors and cannot be disassembled, assembled and carried easily, hence it is rarely used outdoors for a leisure purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a rotary table that can be disassembled, assembled and carried easily, and also provide improved balance and bracing support, and is adaptable to any flat surfaces.

The rotary table according to the present invention comprises a first plank which has a plurality of fastening portions and a plurality of rolling balls corresponding to the fastening portions, and each fastening portion fastens each rolling ball to one side of the first plank, and a second plank which has a first baseboard, a second baseboard, an annular trough and at least one latch portion. The first baseboard and the second baseboard have respectively a first trough and a second trough on one side. Through the latch portion the second plank can be formed and the first and second troughs are joined to form the annular trough in a continuous manner on the same plane. The first plank is turnable relative to the second plank through the rolling balls moving in the annular trough.

The construction set forth is adaptable to any flat surfaces.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one side of the first plank according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another side of the first plank according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second plank according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the first plank and the second plank in a coupled condition.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a clamping unit and a recess of the rotary table of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the clamping unit and the recess of the rotary table of the present invention in a coupled condition.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the rotary table of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the rotary table according to the present invention includes a first plank 1 and a second plank 2. The first plank 1 has a plurality of rolling balls 3 fastened to one side thereof. The second plank 2 has a first baseboard 4, a second baseboard 5, an annular trough 8 and at least one latch portion 9. The first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 have respectively a first trough 6 and a second trough 7 that can be joined through the latch portion 9 to become the annular trough 8 in a continuous manner and on the same flat surface so that the rolling balls 3 can roll or slide in the annular trough 8. As a result, the first plank 1 can turn relative to the second plank 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each rolling ball 3 in the first plank 1 is fastened to the one side of the first plank 1 through a fastening portion 13. The fastening portion 13 has a holding space to hold each rolling ball 3 and an opening 131 formed at a size smaller than the diameter of the rolling ball 3 so that the rolling ball 3 is confined in the Z axis and protruded outwards through the opening 131 without escaping, but can be retained and roll or slide in the holding space. There is no limitation on the number and position of the fastening portion 13 and rolling ball 3 in the present invention. To provide steadiness as the main consideration, the fastening portion 13 and rolling ball 3 are positioned remote from the center of the first plank 1, and they should also be movable in the annular trough 8 of the second plank 8. The fastening portions 13 and the rolling balls 3 are fastened on symmetrical locations to take into account of balance or size of the first plank 1.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second planks 1 and 2 are circular and formed at the same size. The first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 are semicircular and can be coupled together to form the circular second plank 2. However, this is not the limitation of the present invention. In practice, the first and second planks 1 and 2 can be formed in any shape as desired. The second plank 2 also can be formed in a size different from the first plank 1 as long as the size of the second plank 2 allows the rolling balls 3 in the first plank 1 to roll or slide in the annular trough 8.

Also referring to FIG. 3, the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 can be coupled together through the latch portion 9 to form the second plank 2. In an embodiment of the present invention, the latch portion 9 includes a first latch portion 11 of the first baseboard 4 and a second latch portion 12 of the second baseboard 5 that are latched together. The first latch portion 11 is located on a first connecting surface 27 of the first baseboard 4 connecting to the second baseboard 5, and the second latch portion 12 is located on a second connecting surface 28 of the second baseboard 5 corresponding to the first connecting surface 27.

The second plank 2 may have a plurality of reinforced structures 26 to increase the strength of the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5. In this embodiment, the reinforced structures 26 are located between the connecting edges of the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5, and one side of the annular trough 8 and formed radially in the radius direction. There is no restriction on location and direction of the reinforced structures 26.

The second plank 2 further has a plurality of clamping units 10 to couple the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 tightly to form the second plank 2 without separating. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, each clamping unit 10 includes a coupling portion 14 and two clamping portions 15 at two sides of the coupling portion 14 to form a clamping space 29 therebetween. The clamping unit 10 can clamp two sides of a first connecting edge 16 and a second connecting edge 17 of the first baseboard 4 connecting to the second baseboard 5.

In this embodiment, the reinforced structures 26 are formed on the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5, and the clamping unit 10 clamps the first and second connecting edges 16 and 17 to reinforce two sides of the reinforced structures 26. To prevent the clamping unit 10 from jutting outside the second plank 2, the first and second connecting edges 16 and 17 corresponding to each clamping unit 10 have a recess 30 for holding the clamping unit 10.

Refer to FIG. 6 for another embodiment of the present invention. A parasol 24 is provided and inserted through the rotary table in an upright manner. The first and second planks 1 and 2 have respectively a first aperture 18 and a second aperture 19 formed at a size to allow the stand of the parasol 24 to pass through. The first aperture 18 and second aperture 19 may be formed at the same size. The first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 have respectively a semicircular notch 25 in the center of the connecting edges mating each other. Therefore, the first baseboard 4 and second baseboard 5 can be coupled through the latch portion 9 and clamping unit 10 to form the second plank 2, and the semicircular notches 25 can latch the stand of the parasol 24 at the second aperture 19 to hold the stand of the parasol 24. The first plank 1 also has a slot 21 formed at a direction that the first aperture 18 directs toward the perimeter of the first plank 1. The first plank 1 further has a cover plate 20 to cover the slot 21. Thus the stand of the parasol 24 can be inserted through the second aperture 18 via the slot 21 so that the parasol 24 can be held securely in the first and second apertures 18 and 19 with the slot 21 covered by the cover plate 20. The cover plate 20 is located at the same flat surface with the first plank 1 after covering the slot 21. There is no limitation on the width and location of the slot 21 as long as it allows the stand of the parasol 24 to pass through.

The cover plate 20 and the slot 21 form a tight coupling. To meet this end, the longitudinal cross section of the slot 21 and cover plate 20 may be formed in a T-shaped structure so that the cover plate 20 can firmly cover the first plank 1. Moreover, the cover plate 20 and the first plank 1 may also have respectively at least one anchor portion 22 to form secure positioning of the cover plate 20 in the slot 21 without sliding. The anchor portion 22 may be a mating bulged and indented structure formed on the corresponding contact surfaces of the first plank 1 and cover plate 20.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A rotary table, comprising: a first plank which comprises a plurality of fastening portions and a plurality of rolling balls corresponding to the fastening portions; each of the fastening portions fastening each rolling ball to one side of the first plank; a second plank which comprises a first baseboard, a second baseboard, an annular trough and at least one latch portion; the first baseboard and the second baseboard comprising respectively a first trough and a second trough on one side thereof and being coupled together through the latch portion to form the second plank; the first trough and the second trough being joined to form the annular trough in a continuous manner on a same flat surface; wherein the first plank is turnable relative to the second plank through the rolling balls moving in the annular trough of the second plank.
 2. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein the first plank is circular, the first baseboard and the second baseboard being semicircular and coupled to form the second plank in circular.
 3. The rotary table of claim 2, wherein the first plank and the second plank are formed at a same size.
 4. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein each of the fastening portions comprises an opening and a holding space, the opening being formed at a size smaller than the diameter of the corresponding rolling ball such that the rolling ball is rollable in the holding space.
 5. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein the first plank comprises a first aperture in the center and a slot formed at a direction which the first aperture directs toward the perimeter of the first plank, the second plank comprising a second aperture in the center thereof.
 6. The rotary table of claim 5, wherein the first plank comprises a cover plate formed at a size same as the slot to cover the slot in a tight manner; the slot allowing a parasol stand to pass through to be held in the first and the second apertures and secured therein by covering the cover plate.
 7. The rotary table of claim 6, wherein the cover plate and the first plank comprise respectively at least one anchor portion at a corresponding position to secure the cover plate on the slot.
 8. The rotary table of claim 7, wherein the first plank and the cover plate on the slot are at a same plane so that the first plank maintains a flat surface.
 9. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein the latch portion comprises a first latch portion located on the first baseboard and a second latch portion located on the second baseboard that correspond to each other and are latchable with each other to form the second plank.
 10. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein the second plank comprises at least one clamping unit which comprises a coupling portion and two clamping portions at two sides of the coupling portion to form a clamping space, the clamping unit clamps a first connecting edge of the first baseboard and a corresponding second connecting edge of the second baseboard.
 11. The rotary table of claim 10, wherein the first connecting edge and the second connecting edge comprise respectively a recess to hold the clamping unit.
 12. The rotary table of claim 1, wherein the second plank comprises a plurality of reinforced structures on the same flat surface where the annular trough is formed to enhance structural strength of the first baseboard and the second baseboard. 